Part 28 (1/2)

I looked over the railing and could see a faint light. The odor of gasoline was everywhere. I got panicky and slowly descended the stairs.

To my horror, I saw Maggie and Allison sitting in chairs, bound and gagged. I ran over to Maggie, she had a horrified look on her face as she frantically shook her head.

I knelt and took her gag off.

”Kate behind you!” she screamed.

I turned and jumped at the same time.

Something hit me and I went flying into a bunch of boxes that came showering down on me. I was stunned but still able to kick the boxes away. As I struggled to get to my feet, preparing for another attack, I saw Sarah, wild eyed and smiling wickedly.

I made a move toward her then abruptly stopped when I saw she had a small handgun pointed at my midsection. It was a definite equalizer. I straightened and stood perfectly still.

”Good girl, Miss Ryan, though you're not as stupid as I hoped. Now, step over there, into the light.” She motioned with the gun.

I slowly made my way toward the desk and stood by the desk lamp.

Maggie and Allison sat right in the line of fire. As Sarah moved forward, I noticed a kerosene lamp on another desk. She saw me looking at it.

”Be careful, scarecrow,” she said, pointing to the gasoline can. ”You are tenacious. I'll give you that. I thought you'd give up,” she said sweetly.

”When, Sarah? When you broke into the house the other night and left that sick note on Maggie's pillow?”

She gave me an approving look. ”Very good! You figured it out. What gave me away? I thought the disguise went well. I love disguises. I do so love Halloween,” she said maniacally.

My mouth was completely dry as I tried to swallow. This woman was nuts. ”Your perfume,” I said. ”I thought you were wearing it at Hannah's party as well. You were, weren't you?”

”Yes, yes, I was. You're very good. That was stupid of me.” She laughed then stopped abruptly. ”You know I have to kill you now.”

”Please, Aunt Sarah, you don't want to do this,” Maggie pleaded.

Sarah raised her eyebrows. ”Oh, but I do, dear. You have no idea how much,” she said and pointed the gun at her.

I took a step and Sarah turned the gun on me and said playfully, ”Ah, ah, ah. No sudden movements or I'll blow your meddling head right off.”

She turned back to Maggie. ”Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused? Between you, your wh.o.r.e of a mother and the whole Winfield family, it's been quite an exasperating twenty years, I must tell you,” she said, shaking her head.

She walked over to Allison and took the gag off. ”Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” she asked flatly. ”You are a grave disappointment to me, Allison. I had such hopes for you,” she said, almost sadly as she stared off into the distance.

”Sarah, please don't do this,” Allison pleaded.

”Shut up, you useless cow,” Sarah said then sighed with mock exasperation.

We all were silent for a moment; I could hear my heart beating in my ears. I cautiously looked around for something-anything.

Then the crazed woman blinked. ”Where was I? Oh, yes, Maggie dear,” and she stared off again, but this time she had the gun pointed at Maggie.

”Sarah, why did you kill Miranda?” I asked quickly.

I noticed Maggie and Allison were completely shocked. It was all clear to me now. All the pieces fit. A little late, but...

Sarah whirled around to me and stiffened. Her face looked pained and white.

”So, you figured that out, too. My, my, you have been a busy bee.”

She gave Maggie a disgusted look. ”Did you know your wh.o.r.e of a mother was sleeping with your Uncle Nathan-my husband?” she asked. ”And-”

Maggie interrupted her. ”Yes, I did.”

Sarah screamed at her. ”Don't interrupt me again!”

Spittle flew from her mouth, making her look like a rabid animal. I instinctively took a step then stopped.

”Good thinking,” Sarah said viciously without looking at me.

Clearly, this woman hated interruptions.

She took a deep breath and put a hand to her hair to straighten it. ”Did you also know that your uncle is also your father?” she asked, laughing helplessly. ”Oh, the trouble you've caused.”

I looked at Maggie. She was ashen. Sarah looked from Maggie to Alison.

”I'll take your vapid looks as a no,” she said, obviously very satisfied with herself. She looked at me. ”How about you? I bet you knew.”

I watched Maggie who looked sad and confused. She undoubtedly was thinking about her life.

I gave Sarah a hateful look. ”I had an idea,” I said, with disgust. ”It seemed a plausible conclusion from Nathan's affair with Miranda and from the pictures in her locket. I'm sure a paternity test would eliminate any doubt. However, I have a bigger question: Why did you fight Jonathon over something as stupid as the clinic?”

It was then I realized my mistake. Never say stupid to an insane woman with a gun. Especially when it's pointed at you.

”Stupid? That clinic was my life, Miss Ryan. It was mine, all mine. The only thing in my life that was my own. Except for Charlie. Alexander f.u.c.ked me and then took it and gave it to Jon, who was going to f.u.c.k me and sell it to a big medical group in Chicago. And you know I simply couldn't let that happen.”

”So, you took Maggie's car and went to Chicago,” I asked. It was all becoming clear to me.

”How did you...?” She stopped and took a deep, angry breath. ”Bedford. I hate that guy. He was the rat in the Winfield woodpile. Allison tells me you found a notebook.”

Maggie shot a look at Allison, who hung her head. What a dupe. ”Don't blame Allison,” Sarah said. ”She can't keep her trap shut. What Charlie saw in you, I will never know.”

Sarah leaned against the desk. I stole glance at Maggie and Allison: Both looked petrified.

”We found a man's coat b.u.t.ton in Bedford's apartment. That was you?” I asked.

”Yep. I was looking for the same thing you were, earlier that morning. I thought if I dropped Nathan's coat b.u.t.ton, someone would find it. Allison told me you thought the intruder was a female, so I needed to throw you off the track. Clever?” she asked, giggling.

It was then I noticed her hand was shaking. I figured it was not a good time to aggravate her any more. ”Yes, it was very clever.”

”Thank you,” she said and curtsied politely.

She was just plain nuts and I was running out of time.

”Okay, enough talking,” she said tiredly. ”You bore me.”